What Is Snortable Chocolate Snuff?
Have you ever tried to stuff a bar of chocolate up your nose? Thanks to a new product called Coco Loko, you don’t have to.
Coco Loko, sold on Amazon in 1.25 oz containers, is a raw cacao powder that you can snort. The powder contains no tobacco and no nicotine. It appears to be marketed to two types of people: those who use snuff and want to quit; and those who really like chocolate and want to discover a new way of “using” chocolate. The product also gives you a little buzz thanks to its use of cacao and energy drink-like stimulants.
Each 1.25 oz container is priced at $25.
Coco Loko has been making headlines across the internet this past week. However, similar snortable chocolate powders have been popular in Europe for over two years. Europeans, who tend to prefer snuff over chewing tobacco, have been experimenting with snortable chocolate as a stimulant and stress reducer.
Coco Loko was created by an Orlando, Florida-based company called Legal Lean, founded by 29-year old Nick Anderson.
“You get a nice minor euphoric rush. You feel a calm energy and focus. You feel motivated to want to go out and dance or be social,” Anderson said in an interview with CNN. “You feel yourself; you just feel a nice positive vibe and energy to you.”
Nick was inspired to create Coco Loko after watching YouTube videos of people snorting chocolate in Europe. The product launched on Amazon this past month. So far, Anderson claims to have sold about 2,000 units online and in stores – including smoke and tobacco shops across the United States.
There is no age limit on purchasing the product. However, Anderson only markets Coco Loko to users above the age of 18, and plans to add a label to the product starting this month.
What’s In Coco Loko Powder?
Coco Loko is a mix of raw cacao powder and common energy drink stimulants, including ginkgo biloba, taurine, and guarana.
Anderson did not consult any medical experts while formulating the product. However, he figured it was safe because European media hasn’t made a big deal out of the Snortable Chocolate Snuff.
Is Coco Loko Powder Safe?
One of the risks of Coco Loko, according to a doctor interviewed by CNN, is damage to the nasal passage.
However, the main risk of Coco Loko is that after snorting the powder, some of it could end up in the lungs. Lungs aren’t designed to deal with foreign substances. They aren’t meant to act as a filter. When foreign substances enter your lungs, it can lead to problems like chemical pneumonitis, tissue scarring, and lung inflammation.
Meanwhile, those with pre-existing conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other lung disorders could be at a particularly high risk for Coco Loko-related problems.
Does Snorting Chocolate Make the Effects Stronger?
It’s no secret that chocolate can be healthy for you. The other ingredients in Coco Loka – like gingko biloba – are well-known stimulants found in energy drinks.
But can snorting these ingredients make them stronger or more fast-acting?
Apparently not. Inhaling energy drink ingredients is no different than ingesting them normally. Either way, the ingredients end up in your bloodstream.
Is Snortable Chocolate Snuff Legal?
Coco Loko has been sold legally throughout the United States for over a month. There’s no age limit or restrictions on the formula.
However, that may change in the future. US Senator from New York Charles Schumer recently issued a notice urging the Food and Drug Administration to launch an investigation into the product. Schumer described the substance as “like cocaine on training wheels” (seriously).
Schumer took particular issue with the fact that Coco Loko seemed to be marketing itself as “cool” and “safe” to kids and teenagers. Despite the fact that it’s filled with stimulants, the formula is marketed as being as natural and safe as candy.
Nevertheless, product creator Nick Anderson stands by his product. As proof, Nick points to Europe, where there have been no reported problems caused by snortable chocolate after two years on the market. He does, however, advocate the use of Coco Loko only among adults 18 years of age and older.
How Much Does Coco Loko Powder Cost?
Coco Loko is available on Amazon at a price of $24.99 USD for a 1.25oz container.
Should You Take Coco Loko Powder?
Coco Loko is a snortable chocolate powder – similar to the products seen in Europe over the past two years. To some people, it’s “cocaine on training wheels”. To others, it’s a safe and innocent way to get a buzz from natural ingredients like cacao and gingko biloba.
